Why are people leaving Todoist?
Todoist is well-designed, but the same things that made it popular have started to push users away:
- Sign-up is required before you can add a single task
- Reminders, labels, filters, and themes are locked behind Todoist Pro
- The app feels heavier than it needs to be for "buy milk"
- Tasks live on Todoist servers — there is no local-only option
If you mostly use a task app for short reminders during the day, the gap between what Todoist asks of you and what you actually need keeps getting wider.
What should a Todoist alternative actually do?
Most users do not need projects, sub-projects, labels, filters, karma points, or productivity dashboards. They need three things:
- A way to write the task in under 3 seconds
- A way to see it again before they forget
- A way to mark it done
That is it. Anything more is friction wearing the costume of a feature.
How does SnapTask compare to Todoist?
| Feature | SnapTask | Todoist (free) | Todoist Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| No account required | Yes | No | No |
| Works offline | Yes (local-only) | Partial | Partial |
| Add task from notification bar | Yes — built for this | No | No |
| Reminders | Yes (free) | Locked | Yes |
| App size | Under 4 MB | ~50 MB | ~50 MB |
| Price | Free (Pro: $2/mo) | Free (limited) | ~$4/mo |
SnapTask is the simpler tool. Todoist is the system for people who genuinely build their week around it. The two are not really for the same person.
What about TickTick and Microsoft To Do?
TickTick is feature-rich and popular but follows the same pattern as Todoist: account required, premium gating, heavy app. Microsoft To Do is free but tied to a Microsoft account and tends to feel slow for quick capture.
Both are solid if you want a full task management system. Neither is built around the "thought hits, save it now" workflow.
How fast is task entry in SnapTask?
The actual flow:
- Pull down your notification shade from the top of the screen
- Tap the SnapTask input field that is always there
- Type your task — for example: Pay rent +2d
- Tap Send
That is it. The task is saved with a date 2 days from now. No app opened, no calendar picker, no sync wait.
SnapTask currently understands these date shortcuts at the end of a task:
- tomorrow
- +Nd (where N is any number of days)
- 15 May
- 15/03/2026
Is SnapTask available on Google Play?
SnapTask is currently in closed testing on Google Play. The public Play Store release is expected in mid-May 2026. Until then, the free APK is available from Gumroad and from APKPure.
Installing an APK is straightforward: enable "Install from unknown sources" once in Android settings, download the file, install. Total time: about 60 seconds.
Stop fighting your task app.
Free APK. No account. Works offline. Type your next task from the notification bar in 3 seconds.
Download Free APKFrequently asked questions
What is the best free Todoist alternative for Android?
SnapTask is the lightest free option. No account, no premium gating, fully offline, with notification bar input for instant task entry.
Is Todoist actually free?
Todoist has a free tier, but reminders, labels, filters, themes, and many useful features are gated behind Todoist Pro at around $4 per month.
Can I use a task app on Android without creating an account?
Yes. SnapTask requires no sign-up. Open the APK once, the task list is ready, no email or Google account needed.
Does SnapTask sync between devices?
No. SnapTask is local-only. If you need cross-device sync, the manual backup/restore feature lets you export your tasks as a file and restore on another device.
Why is SnapTask under 4 MB when Todoist is 50 MB?
SnapTask is built around one core workflow — fast task entry from the notification bar — and ships only the code needed for it. No analytics SDKs, no ads, no rich media editor, no productivity dashboards.